Solomon Islands government delegation attend the Economic Partnership Agreement held in PNG

Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade William Haomae last week led a high level government delegation to a seminar on the Economic Partnership Agreement E-P-A.

The seminar was jointly attended by a European Commission delegation and Pacific ACP Trade Ministers and other top officials held in Madang, Papua New Guinea from April 28 to 29.

The Government Communications Unit reports the European Commission invited Pacific A-C-P Trade Ministers, National Authorizing Officers, Senior Government Officials, selected Civil Society Organizations and Private Sector Institutions to the EPA Seminar.

Amongst others, the participants discussed the progress of the Economic Partnership Agreement and the free trade agreement currently being negotiated by European Union and PACP States.

The Seminar provided an opportunity for the E-C delegation and participants to exchange views on issues that delayed the signing of the Agreement at the end of December 2007 and how the Pacific region will benefit from this undertaking.

Minister Haomae was accompanied by Minister for National Planning and Aid Coordination, Steve Abana,Foreign Secretary Barnabas Anga, Solomon Islands High Commissioner to PNG Bernard Bata’anisia, and Daniel Hetherington, Trade Analyst of Foreign Affairs.

Solomon Islands’ Civil Society Organizations and Private Sector Institutions were represented at the meeting by Leliana Firisua of the Small and Medium Enterprises Corporation.

Source: SIBC